Spinnaker Clinic

The Spinnaker Clinic teaches sailors how to safely harness the power of the Spinnaker sail. Progress into performance sailing, or just improve your light wind skills on the gentle summer afternoons.

Learn about the different types of spinnakers, the parts as well as how to pack and stow them. Students are introduced to the rigging and maneuvering of the spinnaker pole systems used for symmetrical spinnakers, the work-horse of downwind sailing. The class will also rig and fly the asymmetrical chute that’s preferred for reaching across the wind.

Description

The Spinnaker Clinic teaches sailors how to safely harness the power of the Spinnaker sail. Progress into performance sailing, or just improve your light wind skills on the gentle summer afternoons.

Tired of just sitting still in our light summer winds? Frustrated by boats with those colorful “balloons” passing you? Are you interested in moving into performance sailing, racing, or just improving your light wind performance? Learn how to use the spinnaker to sail on a reach safely and confidently.

Learn about the different types of spinnakers, the parts as well as how to pack and stow them. Students are introduced to the rigging and maneuvering of the spinnaker pole systems used for symmetrical spinnakers, the work-horse of downwind sailing. The class will also rig and fly the asymmetrical chute that’s preferred for reaching across the wind.

On-Water: On the water training is highly utilized and critical to give students practical experience and training at launching, flying, gybing, and dousing along with driving the boat under sail. Students are allowed to attend as many of these four hour sessions as they like. Upon completion students are qualified to check out spinnakers from Island Sailing Club and enjoy exciting downwind sailing.

Topics include:

Packing

Rigging

Setting

Launching and dousing

Trimming

Gybing

Problem solving

Session Format

The clinics are 3 to 4 hours per clinic. Most newcomers to flying the spinnaker usually need 4 sessions to hone skills while rotating across all the learning areas needed to successfully and safely “fly the kite”.

This format also allows for students to attend sessions at any point and plan training based on individual needs! Work the foredeck, trim, etc….

Primary Skill Areas:

Foredeck

Trimmer

Guy

Helm

Mainsheet

Endorsement

The spinnaker endorsement requires an instructor assessment of your skills and sign-off that you’re competent and safe with flying spinnakers. There’s no additional cost for the instructor’s assessment (the instructor assesses continually during the clinics), but note it typically takes multiple clinic sessions for a new student to become competent in all required areas. If you have prior experience, then that certainly applies!

After your first session, the instructor will recommend what’s needed to continue the training.

Conditions

Gift Certificate Conditions and Restrictions:

• Specials are Gift Certificates: the value is the amount paid and is non-refundable.

• See specific class details for more information on what’s included with each class.

• Gift certificates only apply to Island Sailing courses, and not to contracted courses and activities (e.g., do not apply to Adventure Vacations, San Juan Bareboats or Cruise & Learn, Offshore, etc…). Contact us if you have questions.

• Off-Season specials require the student to take the course between October 1st and April 1st. Students can upgrade to another course at the price difference between the certificate value and standard class rate. The exception is if Island Sailing reschedules a class due to weather or related safety concerns, in which case the student will be placed in the next available class and at no additional charge.

• Course Bundles are not restricted to off-season. A benefit of the bundles is that we emphasize practice and experience between courses.

• Two weeks notice is required to schedule a class.

• The $100 Gift Certificate is not applicable to and cannot be combined with other specials/discounts or member dues.

FAQs

• What’s Included? You’ll receive a confirmation email with details and redemption instructions as well as a card you can print & sign. Separately you’ll receive a receipt from PayPal.

• How are certificates redeemed? We’ll provide instructions, and depending on the certificate coupon codes that can be redeemed online. The recipient can schedule online or contact us directly. We retain records of each certificate – so, there’s little concern if the recipient loses the information.

• What’s included in the courses? Check the course description for what’s specifically included in each course. Generally, the courses include online knowledge training with NauticEd, (b) multi-day practical training and upon successful completion of knowledge and practical (c) certification. Our courses comply with the USCG’s assessment standards, meaning that students are only practically certified if they demonstrate competency and safe boating on the water.

• When can we start the online training? The recipient can start as soon as they’d like, and we encourage getting a head start with the online training so that it’s completed before the class start. If the recipient doesn’t yet have a set course date, they can contact us and we’ll get the knowledge going. We do not register the participant for online upon purchase because, simply, we don’t want to spoil the gift! Again, they need only to contact us to get started with training.

• How does “Off-Season” scheduling work? Off-Season specials require the student to take the course between October 1st and April 1st. Students can upgrade to another course at the price difference between the certificate value and standard class rate. The exception is if Island Sailing reschedules a class due to weather or related safety concerns, in which case the student will be placed in the next available class and at no additional charge. In practice, trust that we appreciate that “life” happens and schedules don’t always work out as planned. If a conflict or an issue, just contact us and we’ll work out alternatives.

• How are payments processed? Payments are processed via PayPal when purchased online, and processed via Intuit Merchant Services if purchased over the phone. Both systems are secure.

• Do certificates expire? Nope, but we do recommend recipients use the certificate as soon as is reasonable.